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North Queensland Cowboys 2016 NRL season preview

27th December, 2015
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(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Roar Guru
27th December, 2015
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After winning their maiden premiership in 2015 in one of the closest grand finals in history, the North Queensland Cowboys are out to become the first team since the Broncos of 1997-98 to go back-to-back.

However, they face stiff competition for the Provan-Summons Trophy in what shapes as the closest season ever.

Coach Paul Green has not made any major changes to his team, with Glenn Hall the only notable omission. The similar roster will either make the Cowboys’ season or prove their downfall; with the squad working well together, there was no need for change, but without a new trick up their sleeves, they may be found out.

Rookie watch
A member of the NYC Team of the Year, Gideon Mosby-Gela had an outstanding 2015 and is hoping to make his NRL debut with the Cowboys in 2016.

Mosby-Gela finished the year as the top try scorer, with 39 tries in 25 games, the highest total by any player in the competition’s eight seasons.

The Cairns Kangaroos junior is a possibility of making a Round 1 debut if he impresses in the preseason.

Under pressure
They almost cost the Cowboys a premiership last year, and this year North Queensland’s outside backs must improve.

Justin O’Neill, Kyle Feldt, Antonio Winterstein and Kane Linnett have nowhere near the star power of the remainder of the team, and each must prove themselves if they each wish to keep their positions. Linnett, O’Neill and Winterstein all come off contract at the end of the year, and with Mosby-Gela rising through the ranks and fringe first-graders Tautau Moga, Matthew Wright and Jahrome Hughes also off contract, there will be plenty of pressure on the outside backs.

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Will the Cowboys go back-to-back?
The Cowboys finally broke their premiership drought, securing a 17-16 win over Queensland rivals the Brisbane Broncos in front of 82,758 at ANZ Stadium.

However, it will be even harder in 2016, with each team having more reason to win.

The Broncos came so close last year, and will be embarrassed if they fail to win in 2016 after they proved to be the best team of 2015. The Roosters won their third minor premiership in a row last year, yet fell out of the premiership race in the preliminary finals for the second year running. Like the Broncos, the Chooks have a point to prove.

The Raiders finally have their dream team together, and the fans are expecting a bumper season, as are the Warriors. Souths have got Sam Burgess back, who was their missing piece in 2015 while the Sharks finally have finals experience and are ready to claim their first premiership after 48 years of heartache. The Sea Eagles have put their drama aside, and the Panthers are looking fit.

The odds are stacked against North Queensland, so if they can win another grand final, it will be one of the greatest achievements in modern rugby league.

Can Johnathan Thurston get any better?
Thurston may be going into his 15th season since debuting for the Bulldogs back in 2002, but the four-time Dally M Medallist is only getting better.

Coming off a record year, in 2015 Thurston was awarded the Dally M Medal for the fourth time, a fourth Dally M Halfback of the Year award, was named Dally M Captain of the Year, Provan-Summons Medallist, and RLPA Player of the Year.

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Added to this, Thurston led the Cowboys to their maiden premiership and was named Clive Churchill Medallist and Paul Bowman Medallist.

As if that wasn’t enough, he was voted by the people of Townsville as the winner of the Townsville Bulletin Fan Choice Award. Thurston also won a record third Golden Boot Award as the best player in the world.

The scary thing is the Souths Sunnybank junior could easily receive every single one of those accolades again in 2016 – and possibly even more.

Johnathan Thurston with his 4th Dally M award Johnathan Thurston with his 4th Dally M award. With another premiership to his name, can we just call him the greatest ever and move on? (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)

Is there enough depth to cover for the Origin period?
A handful of Cowboys stars will grace the Origin arena this year, and with several players out the reigning premiers are expected to struggle due to poor depth.

Thurston, Matthew Scott and James Tamou are all certainties to go missing due to representative commitments, with Michael Morgan, Jake Granville, Gavin Cooper and Ben Hannant also bidding for Origin jerseys.

The halves appear to be the Cowboys’ problem, with only Ray Thompson and Kyle Laybutt as back-up. If both Thurston and Morgan go missing, Lachlan Coote will be expected to make the transition to five-eighth, and Thompson will be brought in at halfback, with an outside back to shift to fullback.

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Recruit Shaun Hudson is another possibility to step into the side as cover for injury or representative duties.

The real struggle, however, will come if the Cowboys’ front row of Scott, Tamou and Hannant play Origin, which would push Scott Bolton and Patrick Kaufusi into the starting side and force the Cowboys to bring in either Coen Hess or Braden Uele.

The future looks bright for the Cowboys with plenty of promising rookies coming through. However, if they are required during this year’s Origin period, it could derail the club’s season.

Must watch

Round 4 versus Broncos
Friday, March 25, 8:05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Good Friday is always a great day for rugby league and for Queenslanders it will be made even better, with a grand final rematch in Brisbane. The Broncos will be looking to hit back at the Cowboys after falling at the final post in an unlucky match they will wish to forget.

Of particular interest will be Ben Hunt’s battle with Michael Morgan for an Origin jersey as the Maroons’ bench utility.

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Round 25 versus Bulldogs
August 25-29 at Belmore Sports Ground

Thurston will play at Belmore for the first time against his old club. The result will no doubt decide whether the Cowboys qualify for the finals, receive a home-game advantage, or avoid a wooden spoon depending on where they finish.

Predicted best XVII
1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Justin O’Neill, 4. Kane Linnett, 5. Antonio Winterstein, 6. Michael Morgan, 7. Johnathan Thurston (c), 8. Matthew Scott (c), 9. Jake Granville, 10. James Tamou, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn, 15. John Asiata, 16. Scott Bolton, 17. Ben Hannant

2016 signings
Shaun Hudson (Gold Coast Titans), Jahrome Hughes (Townsville Blackhawks)

2016 draw (AEST)
Round 1: Cowboys versus Sharks (Saturday, March 5 7.30pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 2: Eels versus Cowboys (Saturday, March 12 7.30pm @ Pirtek Stadium)
Round 3: Cowboys versus Roosters (Thursday, March 17 8.05pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 4: Broncos versus Cowboys (Friday, March 25 8.05pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 5: Cowboys versus Dragons (Saturday, April 2 7.30pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 6: Panthers versus Cowboys (Saturday, April 9 7.30pm @ Pepper Stadium)
Round 7: Cowboys versus Rabbitohs (Friday, April 15 7.50pm @ Brookvale Oval)
Round 8: Cowboys versus Eels (Saturday, April 23 7.30pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 9: Sea Eagles versus Cowboys (Saturday, April 30 7.30pm @ Brookvale Oval)
Round 10: Storm versus Cowboys (Saturday, May 14 5.30pm @ Suncorp Stadium)
Round 11: Cowboys versus Broncos (Friday, May 20 7.50pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 12: Dragons versus Cowboys (Saturday, May 28 7.30pm @ WIN Stadium)
Round 13: Cowboys versus Knights (Saturday, June 4 5.30pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 14: Sharks versus Cowboys (Monday, June 13 7pm @ Shark Park)
Round 15: Bye
Round 16: Cowboys versus Sea Eagles (Monday, June 27 7pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 17: Rabbitohs versus Cowboys (Sunday, July 3 4pm @ Barlow Park)
Round 18: Raiders versus Cowboys (Monday, July 11 7pm @ GIO Stadium)
Round 19: Bye
Round 20: Cowboys versus Bulldogs (Thursday, July 21 7.50pm @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 21: Cowboys versus Storm (July 28-August 1 @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 22: Wests Tigers versus Cowboys (August 4-August 8 @ Leichhardt Oval)
Round 23: Roosters versus Cowboys (August 11-August 15 @ Allianz Stadium)
Round 24: Cowboys versus Warriors (August 18-August 22 @ 1300Smiles Stadium)
Round 25: Bulldogs versus Cowboys (August 25-August 29 @ Belmore Sports Ground)
Round 26: Cowboys versus Titans (September 1-September 4 @ 1300Smiles Stadium)

Prediction
Sticking with the same team and game plan as 2015 will see the Cowboys will struggle to compete – similar to the Rabbitohs’ 2015 attempt to defend their premiership.

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North Queensland will fall to fifth place and make an early finals exit.

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